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River Cities of France & Portugal

L2413

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Evening view of Bordeaux, River Seine, France View on Bordeaux in the evening - France

08 May 2024

Newcastle

15 nights

Balmoral

Your cruise at a glance

Hand-crafted highlights

We have designed this cruise so you can experience the riverside cities of France and Portugal, with a particular highlight of traditional foods and drinks. In Bordeaux, take time to sample the wines of the region or join us on a tour to meet the owners of Château Boutinet, where you can discover Bordeaux’s wine history. Immerse yourself in local life and learn how to make pastéis de nata with a pastry chef in Lisbon, or participate in a Calvados and cheese tasting session from Honfleur. Enjoy a Scenic Discovery along the River Seine – lined by quaint villages and rich, hilly countryside – en route to Rouen, a journey only possible on smaller ships. 

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Highlights

Eiffel tower on the River Seine, France

Riverside Cities

 

This cruise has been designed to highlight the journey along the River Seine as Balmoral glides through Normandy’s Parc naturel régional des Boucles de la Seine, linking the historic cities of Rouen and Honfleur. As our smaller cruise ships can navigate these waterways, you’ll see traditional houses and churches which have inspired artists such as Monet and Matisse. Bordeaux, located along the Garonne River is renowned for its wine industry, so you'll see numerous vineyards dotting the surrounding countryside. From Rouen, you'll have the opportunity to visit Paris for the day, along with a lunch cruise on the Seine. You'll be accompanied on this cruise by commentary from our on board teams on the rivers you will sail along.

Your Hand-crafted Signature Experience | Scenic Discoveries

Chef making Pasteis de nata

Renowned Cuisine of Portugal & France

 

Both France and Portugal have rich culinary traditions, each influenced by unique flavours and specialities. When in Lisbon, learn to  make pasteis de nata under the guidance of a local chef; or from Bordeaux, join a tour to the 18th century Château Boutinet, where you can stroll through the vineyards and learn more of the winemaking methods used here. You’ll have the opportunity to taste the wines alongside delicious tapas which pair perfectly with the selected Château Boutinet wines. The Normandy region is well-known for it's production of Calvados apple brandy, delicious with Camembert and french bread. You'll be joined on this Balmoral cruise by Mark Southon, an expert on wines & spirits, who will talk about the food and drink you will discover, and the histories behind them.

Your Hand-crafted Signature Experience | Itinerary Insights

Royal Monastery of Jerónimos

Conquests & Conflicts

 

Join us on a tour from Lisbon and follow in the footsteps of  explorers, writers, and navigators during the Portuguese Age of Discovery and learn about their rich maritime history. You'll have the chance to visit the magnificent Belém Tower, a fortress built in 1515, and the Royal Monastery of Jerónimos, which houses the tomb of navigator Vasco da Gama. From Honfleur, the city of Bayeaux is easily accessible and is home to the famous Bayeux Tapestry, the most accurate document to survive the Middle Ages. You may wish to immerse yourself in the historical impact of D-Day with a tour to the D-Day Museum in Arromanches and the British Cemetery of Ranville. Social historian, Graham Stirrup will accompany you on this cruise and will be speaking about the Norman Invasion, Age of Discoveries and the D-day landings.

Your Hand-crafted Signature Experience | Itinerary Insights

Itinerary

Cruise Itinerary

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Life On Board

Introducing Balmoral

Beautiful Balmoral is small enough to navigate some of Europe’s most picturesque waterways so guests can enjoy hours of scenic cruising. Balmoral retains a warm, civilised atmosphere and features comfortable accommodation, stylish restaurants and plenty of open deck space.

Balmoral
Fred. Olsen ship Balmoral sailing at dawn

Balmoral

Beautiful Balmoral is small enough to navigate Europe’s most picturesque waterways so guests can enjoy hours of scenic cruising. Balmoral offers a warm, civilised atmosphere and features comfortable accommodation, stylish restaurants and plenty of open-deck space.

710 cabins
1,325 guests
551 crew
43,537 GT
16kts max speed
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Our Signature Experiences

To make your experience even more special, our Journey Planners have designed a unique programme of Signature Experiences which will allow you to discover real insights about the culture and nature of the places we are visiting, so you can arrive in each destination fully prepared to get the most out of your visit.

Itinerary Insights

We have carefully curated a programme of events to give you a deeper understanding of each of the destinations you will be visiting

Scenic Discoveries

Our Scenic Discoveries are designed to allow you to enjoy seeing the world from the unique perspective of our ships

The Ship and the Sea

Maritime is in our DNA - our history in shipping goes back almost 200 years

The Sky at Sea

There’s very little in the natural world more beautiful than a clear night sky, sunrise or sunset seen at sea

Treats of the Region

We love to bring a taste of the region's food, drink, local tastes and culinary traditions to life on board

Your Guest Speakers

We’ve arranged for some wonderful guest speakers to join us for this cruise. They will be delivering a programme of insightful talks and activities to deepen your cultural, artistic and historical understanding of the destinations we will be exploring, well as helping you to enjoy the natural beauty of the places we visit.

Conquest & Conflict

Graham Stirrup

Historian Graham Stirrup will be on hand throughout the cruise sharing insights into the conquests and conflicts in some of our ports of call throughout the cruise.

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Mark Southon, Guest Speaker
History of Spirit & Wines

Mark Southon

On this cruise Mark Southon will be on hand to undiscover the provenance and people behind the history of whisky and fine spirits, including Calvados, French wine and Port.

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Astronomy

Wil Cheung - Go Stargazing

Go Stargazing is formed of a group of astronomers, all of whom are keen to encourage public interest in astronomy to as wide an audience as possible. On your cruise, expect to find them out on the top deck in the evenings conducting stargazing sessions.

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Treats & Pastimes

In addition to our Signature Experiences, we have a selection of lovely Treats & Pastimes for you to enjoy when on board. Just check your Daily Times each day for full details.

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Cabins, Prices & Offers

Cabin Options On Your Cruise

* Prices correct as of 11:00 28/03/2024, based on the lowest available Cruise Only fare, and on two people sharing a twin cabin. Please call +441473746175 for live availability & prices.

* Prices correct as of 11:00 28/03/2024, based on the lowest available Cruise Only fare, and on sole occupancy. Please call +441473746175 for live availability & prices.

Cabin Grades

Standard Pricing Solo Pricing
Suite

Balcony Junior Suite (BJ)

Balmoral's Balcony Junior Suites have a large cabin area and private balcony

Freedom Fare From £4,699 pp
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Suite

Superior Suite (SS)

Located on decks 9 & 10, Superior Suites have a balcony and large cabin area

Freedom Fare From £4,999 pp
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Suite

Marquee Suite (MS)

Situated on deck 10, Marquee Suites have a private balcony and large cabin area

Freedom Fare From £6,299 pp
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Suite

Premier Suite (PS)

Located on deck 10, Premier Suites have a private balcony and large cabin area

Freedom Fare From £6,699 pp
Please Call
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Suite

Owner's Suite (OW)

Exclusive Suite - please call for more details

Freedom Fare From £7,999 pp
Please Call
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Cruise Offers

Solo traveller offer available   Saver Fare
Freedom Fare

FREE On Board Spend   Freedom Fare

What's Included

SO MUCH ALREADY INCLUDED

As well as our Signature Experiences, there is a host of other treats to enjoy on board our ships.

  • À la carte breakfast, lunch & dinner
  • Daily buffet dining options
  • Late night Supper Club
  • Afternoon tea
  • Self-service tea & coffee
  • In-cabin dining & snacks
  • Evening shows
  • Live music & dancing
  • Dance classes
  • Lectures & talks
  • Cookery demonstrations
  • Traditional deck games
  • Daily games & quizzes
  • Swimming Pools
  • Jacuzzis
  • Fitness Centre
  • Fitness Classes

Enhance your cruise

Each of our cruises has been carefully designed for you to get the very best out of your time on board; and now you can enhance your cruise to make it even more special.

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